Shank support



June 18, 1929. @F, P. MARX SHARK SUPPORT I Filed Oct. 19, 1921' 2 Sheets-Sheet l //n ewfori June 18, 1929. P MARX 1,717.721

SHANK SUPPORT Filed Oct. 19, 1921- 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented June 18, 1929.

UNITED STATES FREDERICK 1. MARK, OF ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI.

SHANK SUPPORT.

Application filed October 19, 1921. Serial No. 508,643.

This invention relates to shank supports. An object of the invention is to provide a shank support of greatly improved construction having a novel cooperative relationship to the shoe heel and sole to obtain superior beneficial results.

Another object of the invention is to provide ashank support adapted to be secured or attached between the shoe heel and the inner sole at a point very near the rear extremity of the shoe and extending forwardly from such point across and bearing upon the heel at the breast thereof, and then curving downwardly in proper-curvature and tenninating rearwardly of the break in cooperative relationship with a supporting abutment located between the inner and outer soles of the shoe. p

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved shank support in the relationship mentioned and embodying a novel construction for obtaining the desired results.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved shank support that may be applied and secured in properposition after the sole has been sewed on the shoe and while the shoe is on the last.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved shank support adapted for use either in connection with metallic heels, or in connection with heels made of leather or other materials.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved shank support having its rear end secured above the heel of the shoe, in combination with a novel cushion device for supporting the forward end of the support out of contact with the shoe sole and the sole near the point at which the tread and the shank of the sole merge.

Other objects will appear from the following description, reference being made to the drawings in which Fig. l is a view showing my improved shank support applied to a shoe, the arch support here shown being of a form adapted for use in connection with a metallic heel.

Fig. 2 is a longitudinal sectional viewof the shank support and the shoe structure showing the relationship of the parts in a completed shoe.

Fig. 3 is a vertical cross sectional view approximately on the line 3-3 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a longitudinal sectional view of leather or other material.

projection 3 at the rear end of the portion 1 for providing proper body atthe break of the, shank support detached from the other structure.

Fig. 5 is an enlarged sectional view illustrating more clearly the cushioning, and abutment device at the forward end of the shank support. Fig. 6 is a view similar to Fig. 1 showing a shank supportof a form adapted for use in connection with shoes having heels of Fig. 7 is a longitudinal sectional view of the shank supportand the shoe structure showing the relationship of the parts in a completed shoe havinga non-metallic heel.

Fig. 8 is a cross sectional View on the line 8-8 of Fig. 7.

Fig. 9 is a longitudinal sectional view of the shank support detached from the other structure.

Fig. 10 is an enlarged sectional view of a modified form of cushioning and abutment device at the forward end of theshank support.

Referring first to the shank support for use in connection with metallic heels the de- 80 vice, as shown in Figs. 1 to 5 has a metallic supporting member having a wide-rear portion 1 adapted to be received within the hol-. low upper portion of a shoe heel, and an appropriately formed arch supporting portion.

- A number of holes are formed near the marglnal edge of the portion 1 to receive tacks or nails 2 for securing said portion 1 to the rear extremity of the inner sole ofv the shoe. A

of the shank support extends into a hole or recess in a thickened part 4 of the rear wall of the shoe heel.

From the forward end of the portion 1 the arch supporting extension 5 curves downwardly and forwardly to a termination just to the rear of and very close to the break line of the sole of a shoe to which the device is applied. The extension 5. is narrower than the portion 1 in order to extend between the welts 6 of the shoe.

A long downwardly dished central portion 7 is formed in the device preferably beginning from a point somewhere in front of the rear end of the portion 1 and extending continuously from the point of beginning to a point of termination a short distance from the forward end of-the extension 5. The marginal portions of the extension 5, at the sides of the depressed central portion 7, are preferably no g a cushioning and abutment device for the for- J construction for the brea has a lon tion 22, h .65 Th y the arch support, said breast wall forming a support or fulcrum for the arch su port. The forward end 9 of the device is su stantiall strai ht orflat in cross section. At the of t eshoe, which is the line along which the shoe sole bends in walkin ward end of the support is located. I 'In the embodiment shown on Sheet 1 of the drawings the cushion and abutment device is of elastic material, preferably rubber, and includes a body 10 located under the forward end 9 of the support and terminating in an attenuated rear edge 11. The body 10 is thickened upwardly in front o f the forward end 9 of the support, having a raised ortion l2 rising to or above the plane of t e upper surface of the end 9 and preferably spaced a short distance therefrom- The body 10 attenuates toward the forward end as shown. The body 10 is located between the welts of the shoe and'is preferabl o'f the full width of the s ace between t e' welts. The body .10 is a so of sufficient length to extend some distance in front ofthe break line of the shoe and some distance to the rear of the break line, the shoe sole 13 bending around and against said body which provides a cushion for the shoe across the breakline. In addition to serving as an elastic cushion for the shoe across the break line the body 10 supports the end of the shank support out of contact with the shoe sole preventing said device from 'wearing or abraiding the sole of the shoe.

As shown the body 10 may be secured to the forward end of the support by afnhmber of- ,rivets or fasteners 14 and may be adhesively or otherwise secured to the inner sole of the shoe.

The device as shown inFigs. 6 to 10 is adapted for use in connection with nonmetallic heels and, except for involving a purpose of such adaptation, is quite similar to the" construction described in connection with Figs. 1 to 5. The .50

device as shown on Sheet 2 of the drawings comprises a relatively wide rear portion 16 received in an appropriate concavit or recess formed inthe upper end of the eel and secured to the inner sole by a number of tacks.

17. The portion 16 extends nearly to the rear wall ofthe shoe heel and has a hole 18 therethrough for receiving a nail 19 passing throu h the shoe heel and engaging the inner sole 0 the shoe. heel to the shoe portion 16. 5- The narrow arch supporting portion 21 downwardly dished central ore'the portion 7, above descri ed. e arch supporting portion 21 is received The nails 20 securing the pass at the sides of the wide between the welts 6 in the same manner that the arch supporting portion 5 is received between the welts 6, and the forward extremity 23 of the arch supporting portion is flattened like the flattened portion 9. The arch supporting portion terminates close to and preferably just to the rear of the break line of the shoe sole to which the device is to be applied.

At the break of the shoe, which is the line along which the shoe sole bends in walking, a cushioning and abutment device for the forward end of theshank'support is located. In the embodiment shown on Sheet 2 of the drawings the cushion and abutment device is of elastic material as leather, rubber or other appropriate material, and includes a body 24 located under the forward end 23 of the shank support and terminating in an attenuated rear edge 25 and an attenuated forward edge 26. Apart 27 on the body 24 rises to or above the plane of the upper surface of the end 23 and preferably is spaced a short distance therefrom. The part 27 and also the raised part 12 previously described, form inclined supports for the inner sole of the shoe and protect the inner sole from abrasion and Wear by the extremities 9 and 23 of the shank support. The body 24 and the part 27 extend between the welts of the shoe and are preferably of the full width of the space between the welts. The" body 24, as

for the shoe across the breakline the body 24 spaces the end of the support out of contact with the shoe sole, preventing said support from wearing or abradmg the sole of the shoe. Thebody 24 and the part 27 may be adhesively bonded or otherwise secured together and to the innersole of the shoe so 'as to prevent displacement thereof.

From the foregoing it will beseen that my. invention comprises a metallic shank sup- I port extending to a point near the rear wall of the 'shoe heel and having its forward por-' tion extending downwardly and terminating in suspension. The rear portion of the support receives and is held by the weight of the wearer of the shoe, while the intermediate portion isstrongly fulcrumed at the breast of the heel, leaving the forward portion of the support suspended and obtaining the desired resiliency and springiness. The depressed or dished portiops of the support increase the resiliency thereof. The reason for extending the support to a point near the rear of the heel is to obtain leverage to produce the-'springiness or resiliency. The downwardly curved parts 7 and 22 in the respective supports aiford greater strength than would be afforded by use of a plate flat in cross section and of equal thickness. By terminating the shank support just behind and close to the break line of the shoe and between the shoe welts the shoe retains its free breaking effects and new and better results are obtained by locating the cushioning device in the relationship shown and described. The cush-' ioning device provides a proper rounded cushioned portion for the shoe sole at the break thereof, affording perfect ease in walking and protecting the inner and outer soles from wearing and abrading action that would otherwise result, dueto the presence of the metallic support.

From the foregoing it will be seen that my invention obtains all of the intended objects and purposes in a novel and highly eflicient manner. The device is of economical construction and may be fastened in position during the manufacture of the shoe after the sole has been sewed on and while the shoe is on the last. The device may he slipped in 1 from the rear to proper position between the cushion and the inner sole. The fasteners 2 or 17 may then be applied to hold the support in proper position while the sole and the heel are being seated. The specific construction and arrangement of the parts may be varied without departure from the nature and principle of the invention.

I do not restrict m self unessentially, but what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. The combination with a shoe heel, of a shank support composed of a metallic plate comprising a portion seated in the heel and a forwardly extending narrow portion which is downwardly dished in cross section and having upwardly and outwardly flaring walls extending laterally" from the edges of the walls of said dished narrow portion, said narrow portion extending forwardly from the heel and terminating in an approximately fiat portion at the break line of the shoe sole and below the metatarsal. arch of the foot for which the shoe is intended, the forward end of said narrow portion having its under side covered by the shoe sole; and a nonmetallic elastic cushion under the forward end of said support crossing the forward end ofv said plate and forming aproximately midway of its front and rear ends a thickened area correspondin with the location of the metatarsal arch o the foot for which the shoe is intended.

2. The combination with a shoe heel, of a shank support composed of relatively thin metal shaped to provide a downwardly dished portion near its rear end above the heel, and a flat ortion behind and at the sides of said dislfed portion above the shoe heel, and a forwardly extending portion having upwardly flaring walls in continuation of the walls of said dished portion, which walls converge into a nearly flat portion at the forward end of the support; and a non-metallic elastic cushion located in part under said flat portion of said support and in part beyond the forward end thereof and wider than said support and crossing the break line of the shoe sole under the metatarsal arch of the foot for which the shoe is intended.

3. The combination with a shoe heel, of a shank support composed of relatively thin metal having its rear end attached to the upper end of the heel and a forwardly extending part terminating in an approximate- 1y fiat portion at the break line of the shoe; and a non-metallic elastic cushion secured to the lower side of said flat portion and extending both forwardly and rearwardly beyond the forward edge of said flat portion and having its upper side that is in front of said flat portion approximately in the plane of the upper side of said flat portion, and said cushion forming approximately midway of its front and rear ends a thickened area near the forward end of said flat portion of said support and being of gradually decreasing thickness toward its front and rear ends FREDERICK P. MARX 

